ADVERTISEMENTJudge Arun Subramanian who presides over Sean Combs’, better known as Diddy, sex trafficking and racketeering case has denied the rapper’s request for release on bail as he awaits his sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
Subramanian says Combs — for now — had not met the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence a “lack of danger to any person or the community.”
Diddy dropped to his knees and prayed in the courtroom after he was acquitted on Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering, along with another charge, that could have put one of hip-hop’s most well-known and celebrated figures behind bars for life.
The two serious charges carry a mandatory sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. The rapper was however convicted of lesser prostitution-related offences.
Jurors convicted the hip hop mogul of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.
The three-time Grammy award winner was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters.
This violated a 115-year-old federal law called the Mann Act, which originally prohibited the interstate transport of a woman or girl for “prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.”
It was later updated to be gender-neutral and for any sexual activity “for which any person can be charged with a criminal offence.”
Diddy’s legal team however argued that under federal sentencing guidelines, he would likely face about two years in prison. Combs has been jailed since his September arrest, all of which will be credited and deducted from his future sentence.
Prosecutors, citing Combs’ violence, aggressive tendencies, abusive past and other factors, said the guidelines would call for at least four to five years.
A hearing has been set by the judge for 8 July to discuss the sentencing process. Subramanian has proposed 3 October as a date for Diddy’s final sentencing. The rapper’s defence has requested an expedited decision.
